Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/20/16
From Press Release
Lehigh head women’s lacrosse coach Jill Redfern announced the incoming class of 2020 on Tuesday, which features nine student-athletes from all over the country. The nine incomers look to mesh with a strong core of returnees in 2017.
“Our entire staff and returning players look forward to the arrival of this class to campus next month,” said Redfern. “They will contribute a variety of talents and depth to a veteran team.”
Here is a rundown of all nine incoming players.
Christine Balestra • A/M • Trappe, Pa. • Perkiomen High School • Dynamite Lacrosse • Business
Balestra was a four-year varsity starter and three-time PAC10 All-Conference team selection at Perkiomen Valley High School. She was a two-time All-Area first team selection and three-time Perkiomen Valley Offensive MVP. Balestra finished her career with 233 goals and 71 assists. She was a two-year varsity captain and US Lacrosse Academic All-American. Balestra received the Howard B. Keyser & Gerald E. Poley Sr. Memorial Award, awarded to an athlete exemplifying qualities of character, dedication and reliability. Balestra was an Elite 120 selected player, a Brine National All-Star and member of the Pennsylvania championship team. Multi-talented, she is a certified PIAA Lacrosse Official. Balestra was a volunteer coach with Perkiomen Valley Youth Lacrosse and Field Hockey. She also competed in varsity field hockey and cross country at Perkiomen. Strong in the classroom, Balestra was vice president of her class and a member of the National Honor Society. She was in the AP/Honors curriculum and achieved highest honors all four years. Balestra also won the American Citizenship Award, Business Information Technology Department Award, Executive Council Award and Friends of Skippack Peace Award (for a student who has waged peace through acts of kindness). She was a recipient of the Perkiomen Career Women’s Student Achievement Award as well.
Maryn Bernhardt • M • Lancaster, Pa. • Manheim Township High School • Xtreme Lacrosse • Arts and Sciences
Bernhardt was a four-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse at Manheim Township High School, earning All-America recognition as a senior and honorable mention All-America as a junior. She was the 2016 league midfielder MVP and was the leading scorer in the Penn Live area with 91 goals and 11 assists. A member of the Penn Live Big 15 team in 2016, Bernhardt earned a spot on the 2015 Under Armour All-America Team. She was also a two-year Lancaster Lebanon League Lacrosse All-Star. A multi-sport athlete, Bernhardt won four varsity cross country letters and one swimming and diving letter. Bernhardt was a two-year state qualifying cross country runner and a two-year Lancaster Lebanon League All-Star. She was strong in the classroom as a member of the honor roll and student council.
Sondra Dickey • M • Paoli, Pa. • Conestoga High School • Phantastix • Arts and Sciences
Dickey was a standout at Conestoga High School, capped off by her senior season when she was named Team MVP in leading her squad to a state championship. Dickey was a first team All-Central League honoree, member of the All-Southeastern Team and an All-American. As a junior, she was named second team All-Central League and garnered Main Line Player of the Week during the season. Dickey was also named All-Area Player of the Year in 2015.
Alexandra Ladda • A • Penn Valley, Pa. • Harriton High School • Quaker City • Arts and Sciences
A four-year varsity starter at Harriton High School, Ladda was named first team All-Central League as a senior while also being named a PA Lacrosse Player to Watch and the Offensive Player of the Year. She was a high school lacrosse All-American and Academic All-American in both 2015 and 2016, participating in the 2016 Philadelphia Lacrosse Association Senior All-Star Game. Ladda finished her career with 187 goals. As a junior, Ladda set the school record for most draw controls in a season with 97, was named first team All-Central League and first team All-Main Line, garnered the Most Improved Award and was named to the All-Southeastern PA Team. As a sophomore in 2014, Ladda was named honorable mention All-Central League, second team All-Main Line, was a member of the National Tournament Philly Team and Under Armour Uncommitted Team. Ladda began her high school career impressively, earning Rookie of the Year while helping lead Harriton to the Central League Championship, District 1 Title and PIAA State Championship. Ladda was a multi-sport athlete who played varsity soccer (two years), track (one year), tennis (two years) and squash (two years), earning 11 varsity letters in total. She was voted the Athlete of the Year by Harriton High School in 2013, 2014 and 2014. In the classroom, Ladda was a four-year member of the honor roll. She won the Straight A Award for Health and Physical Education and Straight A Award for Visual Arts.
Kate Derrenbacker • D • Fayetteville, N.Y. • Christian Brothers Academy • Ethix Lacrosse • Arts and Sciences
Derrenbacker was a four-year varsity lacrosse and soccer player at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York, serving as team captain for lacrosse as a junior and senior. She helped lead CBA to a Class B state title in 2013 and Class A state championship in 2016. Derrenbacker was a first team All-League honoree as a sophomore and junior, earning second team laurels as a senior. In the classroom, she earned high honors from grades seven through 12 and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Megan Gibbons • A • Pittsburgh, Pa. • Mount Lebanon High School • Pittsburgh Premier Lacrosse Club • Engineering
A four-year varsity letterwinner and senior captain at Mount Lebanon High School, Gibbons finished her career with 254 goals, 104 coming in her senior season, leading her squad to WPIAL Championships as a senior and sophomore. She quickly jumped into the lineup as a varsity her starter freshman year. As a sophomore, Gibbons was All-WPIAL and All-Section. As a junior, she was All-WPIAL, All-Section and All-America. Gibbons followed by earning All-America recognition as a senior then earning a spot on the WPIAL All-Star Team. She was also named Pro Grass Player of the Week her senior campaign. She was a member of the Western Pennsylvania National Team as a sophomore and junior, when she also garnered Almanac Player of the Year. Strong in the classroom, Gibbons was a member of the National Honor Society, was a Medallion Ball Candidate in 2015 and a Cum Laude Society Member. She was on the highest honor roll all four years of high school and was a team manager for the wrestling team her final three years.
Jordan Grune • M • Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. • Ponte Vedra Beach High School • LaxManiax • Arts and Sciences
Grune was a four-year varsity lacrosse and soccer player at Ponte Vedra Beach High School in Florida, earning All-State in 2016. She was a two-year captain for lacrosse and named an All-County midfielder in 2014, 2015 and 2016. She was an All-American and earned All-Academic laurels as a junior. Grune also garnered the Coach’s Award and was named the Midfielder MVP. As a sophomore, she received the Unsung Hero Award, her second straight year with the honor. Grune twice appeared in the state championship for lacrosse and twice for soccer. She played for the North Florida National Team twice (2014 and 2015). In the classroom, Grune was a member of the National Honor Society, National Hispanic Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Art Honors Society and Mu Alpha Theta (Mathematics Honor Society). She graduated Cum Lade.
Isabella La Rocca • A/M • Somers, N.Y. • Somers High School • House of Sports • Computer Science and Business
Team captain of her lacrosse and field hockey teams at Somers High School, La Rocca was a four-year starter for its highly-ranked varsity lacrosse team. An Academic All-American, she was a two-time All-Section and All-League player, winning two section championships (as a sophomore and junior) for the first time in program history. La Rocca helped lead her team to the New York State Finals as a junior, garnering the Sportsmanship Award at states. She was on the Upstate New York Brine All-America Team. In field hockey, she was named her team’s MVP along with All-Section and All-Elite honorable mention recognition. In the classroom, La Rocca was a member of the National Honor Society, garnering high honors every semester of high school. A two-time Peer Leader, she received the Scholar-Athlete Award all four years at Somers.
Autumn Ryan • M/A • Wellington, Fla. • The Benjamin School • LaxManiax • Arts and Sciences
Ryan was a two-time first team All-American at The Benjamin School in Florida, earning the honors in 2015 and 2016. She was a Palm Beach Post Player of the Year in 2015, garnering MVP of her high school team as a junior and senior. Ryan was the Female Athlete of the Year for the class of 2016. As a senior captain, she posted 88 goals and 42 assists. Ryan recorded 89 goals and 31 assists as a junior, 30 goals and 11 assists as a sophomore and 25 goals and eight assists as a freshman. She was a multi-sport athlete, serving as a two-time captain of the cross country team, earning the Coach’s Award in 2014. Ryan also participated in the Under Armour Underclass Tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Name Pos. Hometown/High School/Club Team College
Christine Balestra A/M Trappe, Pa./Perkiomen Valley/Dynamite Lacrosse Business
Maryn Bernhardt M Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township/Xtreme Lacrosse Arts and Sciences
Kate Derrenbacker D Fayetteville, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy/Ethix Lacrosse Arts and Sciences
Sondra Dickey M Paoli, Pa./Conestoga/Phantastix Arts and Sciences
Megan Gibbons A Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon/Pittsburgh Premier Lacrosse Club Engineering
Jordan Grune M Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra Beach/LaxManiax Arts and Sciences
Isabella La Rocca A/M Somers, N.Y./Somers/House of Sports Computer Science and Business
Alexandra Ladda A Penn Valley, Pa./Harriton/Quaker City Arts and Sciences
Autumn Ryan M/A Wellington, Fla./The Benjamin School/LaxManiax Arts and Sciences
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